Gmail Slow to Open

My gmail app is getting slower and slower. When I receive a new gmail and click to open it it takes over a second for email to even begin to open. Then the circle comes on spinning slowly. It may then open the email in 10 to 20 seconds or not at all. Then I back out and try again and it usually opens in a second. Why the long wait to open? I have pictures shut off so it isn't waiting for pics to download and it is just as likely to happen in a text only email message.

Does this happen to anyone else? is there a cure OTHER than using another email app? (I prefer to use gmail directly if at all possible)

Tried it... still too slow but may have helped a little. I gave up and installed aquamail. So far it is MUCH faster and has lots of neat options. Only bad part is free version has an add in sig. If aquamail turns out to be stable and fast I will purchase the paid version to get rid of the sig. I don't really understand all the options but I love that I can change font size.